Access to information has changed dramatically in the past 2,200 years, yet the basic structure and function of libraries has remained relatively static. Silent rows of books and limited hours? The Dew...

It’s often said that art imitates life. But, if the infographic Prediction or Influence? A History of Books that Forecast the Future is any indication, it could certainly be the opposite. The UK-based company Printer Inks compiled a list of books ranging from 1735 to 1990. In them, each author makes their own declarations on the future. Prediction or Influence tracks, in years, when these things were actually realized or invented. Sometimes, writers’ predictions were far off. From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne posited that in 1865, we’d have solar sails. In reality, they weren’t successfully utilized until 145 years later in 2010. Other books were more accurate in their timeline. Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner said that in 1969, we’d have satellite TV. He wasn’t far off. Just three years later, in 1972, was the first North American satellite TV transmission. It’s fascinating to study this infographic and to marvel at the creativity of fiction writers. They thought of some of…

This is a follow-up to two popular posts about the problems kids face when they are forced to sit still in school for hours on end without a break. The first, written by pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, was titled “Why so many kids can’t sit still in school today” and discussed how being inactive affects students’ ability to stay focused and learn, and in some cases leads to improper diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. The next piece was titled “The right — and surprisingly wrong — ways to get kids to sit still in class.”

Hanscom has now written a third related piece, this one specifically about middle-schoolers. Hanscom told me that she was curious about the effects of restricted movement on students in middle school, so she went to a local middle school to observe what was going on inside classrooms and talk to teachers and parents. The following post explains Hanscom’s experience and findings at the middle school she visited. Hanscom is the founder of TimberNook, a nature-based development program designed to foster creativity and independent play outdoors in New England.

Yesterday, we told you about a new Barbie book called I Can Be A Computer Engineer, which—while it sounded so promising—actually taught girls that they need a man’s help in order to code games, or even just use a computer without breaking it, really. But fear not—awesome women to the rescue!

Casey Fiesler, a PhD student in Human-Centered Computing at Georgia Tech, was not down with the content in this latest Barbie offering, so she decided to fix it herself (which she did using a computer without giving it a virus I believe). She’s writing her dissertation on copyright and online remix communities, and what she loves about the remix community is the theme of “If you don’t like the narrative, change it!”

So Fiesler went ahead and re-wrote the entire book with a much more positive message. You can download the whole thing for free right here, but here’s an idea of what you’ll find inside:

Click headline to read more and access hot link to the rewritten book--

When you think of a library, most people think of a quiet place to study. If you want to get work done and spread out, you go to a coffee shop. Newer libraries offer the same amenities as coffee shops, and sometimes even more.

When Dutch photographer Reinier Gerritsen turned his lens to people reading on the New York City subway system, he launched a project that proves the power of the printed word is alive and well in the midst of public transportation. Gerritsen spent three years collecting the photos for "The Last Book" project, which was exhibited at New York City’s Julie Saul Gallery and turned into a book. Most readers remained engrossed in the pages as Gerritsen snapped their portraits. A few looked up and shot him curious stares or suspicious glances. With the precision of a librarian, Gerritsen cataloged the 500 photos on his website by author’s last name. The project encompasses authors with last names beginning with every letter of the alphabet except Q and X. Suzanne Collins, James Patterson and J.K. Rowling were among authors who appeared the most on the subway. Classic works by philosophers, poets and Shakespeare were also surprisingly popular selections. Gerritsen noted that literature…

Last year, Random House quietly gave away Dan Brown’s bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code, for free for one week. Millions of readers were unaware of the week-long giveaway. A select group of readers did take advantage of the promotion, though. They were using BookBub, a daily email that alerts readers to free and deeply …

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